How to use SUM in Excel
Adds numbers and ranges.
Syntax
number1A number or range to add[number2]More numbers or ranges optionalExample
Here’s SUM on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=SUM(F2:F9)Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with SUM
Numbers stored as text
SUM skips cells that look like numbers but are really text (often pasted from another system, and usually left-aligned). Convert them with VALUE or Data → Text to Columns.
Adding a total into itself
If the formula sits inside the range it adds, such as =SUM(F2:F10) in F10, Excel warns about a circular reference. Put the total below the range.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=SUM(F2:F9
Parentheses don’t match. You have 1 opening and 0 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the SUM function do in Excel?
Adds numbers and ranges. The syntax is SUM(number1, [number2], …).
Why is my SUM formula giving the wrong answer?
Numbers stored as text: SUM skips cells that look like numbers but are really text (often pasted from another system, and usually left-aligned). Convert them with VALUE or Data → Text to Columns. Adding a total into itself: If the formula sits inside the range it adds, such as =SUM(F2:F10) in F10, Excel warns about a circular reference. Put the total below the range.
Does SUM work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.